Mary Holguin of Palm Beach dies

She was born in Bogota, Colombia, the daughter of Alfredo Holguin and Beatrice Fairbanks de Holguin Cayzer.

She graduated from Marymount School and Palm Beach Junior College. She made her debut at the New York City Cotillion (Infirmary Ball), and resided 10 years in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, and Huntley, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. She also lived in Wellington and West Palm Beach.

She was the descendant of seven presidents of Colombia; she was the granddaughter of Sen. Jorge Holguin and great-granddaughter of Colombian president Jorge Holguin. She also was a descendant of Jonathan Fairbanks, who founded Dedham, Mass., in 1635 and Henry Adams, ancestor of President John Adams and President John Quincy Adams.

In addition to her mother, she is survived by her stepfather, William Richards II; two sisters, Jeannie Holguin Roberts and husband Robin Kershaw Roberts, and Claudia Holguin Peterson and husband William; two daughters, Vanessa Virgo and husband Brett, and Veronica Effinger and husband Robert; and six grandsons, Tristan, Julian, Tyler and Adrian Virgo, and Callisto and Callahan Effinger.

She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (Seminole Chapter), the Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club UK and Mayflower Descendants. She published a book of poetry, The Jewel of Verse.

A funeral will take place at 10 a.m. April 22 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church.

Palms West Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

(Editor’s note: The funeral home information has been updated.)

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